Ah, these lazy, crazy, hazy summer days. Fire up the grill, mix up a pitcher of Tom Collins or whatever people are drinking these days, and let's hit the backyard. We play corn hole, the kids play in the sprinkler. This is what summer is all about. For about five minutes. And then the scourge of summer descends..
Mosquitoes have been around for more than thirty million years. You don't get that kind of longevity without being good at what you do. What mosquitoes are good at is sucking blood, and when these little vampires show up at your picnic, it's time to pack the potato salad.
There are plenty of chemicals available to discourage mosquitoes, but I've never been more excited about spraying synthetics on my plants, let alone my skin. When I need to dispatch these nasty, disease-causing, party-busting pests, I prefer a natural solution. So how do you solve a problem like the mosquito?
Essential oils are a long-wear solution to invading insects. Eucalyptus keeps ticks away. Ants hate peppermint oil and patchouli keeps fleas at bay. Perhaps the best known, citronella oil, extracted from a grass related to lemongrass, is very, very good at keeping mosquitoes from crashing into your pack. It's a common ingredient in bug sprays, and once the scent is in the air, mosquitoes keep their distance. Citronella candles are a great way to keep mosquitoes away without having to repel your guests with repellant every few hours, plus they add a little ambiance around the deck as darkness descends.
Unfortunately, many commercially sold "citronella" candles simply don't work. Looking closely, a candle labeled "citronella scented" may have a synthetic scent, containing none of the natural citronella oil needed to get the job done. Again, if you want the job done right, it might be time to DIY.
These homemade citronella candles are fun to make and the holders can be decorated to match any garden décor. When shopping for citronella oil, be sure to use essential oil, not the fuel you can find for tiki torches. It can be easily found at health food stores or online, and a few drops added to your candles will keep your cover free of mosquitoes all night long.
Select mason jars of any shape or size to house your citronella candles. Start by affixing a wick to the bottom of each jar with heavy-duty tape or hot glue.
Once the wicks are glued on, keep the jars in the oven, set at their lowest temperature until the wax is ready. Hot jars will ensure the wax cools evenly and prevent mishaps if the wax is too hot when pouring.
The wax can come in stick form or in flakes. Note that the volume of flake wax will be reduced by about half when it is in solid form.
In a double boiler or mixing bowl set above a pot of boiling water, melt the wax. Once liquid, it will be clear and resemble olive oil.
Add the citronella oil, adding about three drops per cup of wax.
For a colored candle, add one or two old crayons. When adding color, keep in mind that the cooled wax will be much paler than it appears in liquid form.
Pour the wax into the prepared jars and use pencils or some of the hundreds of leftover toothpicks you can't seem to throw away to keep the wicks centered in the jar.
Once the candles have cooled, trim the wicks to about a half-inch from the surface of the candle.
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Strategically light candles around the deck or patio to create a mosquito-free zone. And pour me another Tom Collins, will you??
